Super Hornet FA 18 E/F

Australia will soon get these babies as a stop gap measure until the JSF-X35 is avaliable.

BOEING SUPER HORNET F/A 18E/F

The US Navy Maritime Strike Attack Super Hornet, F/A-18 E and F, from Boeing (previously McDonnell Douglas) flew for the first time on November 29th 1995. The Super Hornet is about 25% larger than its predecessor, the F/A-18C/D but contains 42% fewer structural parts. The single seat F/A-18/E and the two seat F/A-18/F flies greater ranges, with heavier payloads, uses a more powerful engine and provides greater survivability. In January 1997 the aircraft successfully made its first landing and take-off from the deck of a U.S. Navy's Nimitz Class aircraft carrier, the USS John C.Stennis.

WEAPONS
The Super Hornet being larger than its predecessor carries more weapons. The aircraft has eleven weapon stations which include two additional wing store stations in comparison to the earlier aircraft. The F/A-18E/F will support a full range of armaments. Flight tests activities carried out during 1997 have included the launching of the air-to-air missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow and the AIM-120 AMRAAM; the release of guided air-to-ground weapons, Harpoon, SLAM, GBU-10, HARM, and Maverick; the release of free-fall air-to-ground bombs, Mk-76, BDU-48,Mk-82LD, Mk-82HD, and Mk-84.